TORONTO — The Canadian Women’s Hockey League will pay its players for regular-season games starting this season.

A pay structure unveiled Friday was passed by the league’s board of directors in collaboration with the CWHL, the players’ association and the league’s general managers.

“It’s an exciting and historic time for us,” commissioner Brenda Andress said. “We have always maintained that our goal was to pay our players and we had a strategic plan in place that would allow us to do so beginning this season. The continued success of our teams, players, and league have been key in getting us to where we are.”

Compensation will range from $2,000 to $10,000 per player, based on how many years they’ve played in the CWHL. General managers will also have a discretionary fund to contribute to player earnings.

“The players and the PA are very excited about the player stipend situation for the upcoming season,” Markham Thunder goaltender and players’ association representative Liz Knox said. “The league and the PA have been working hard together to ensure the longevity of player careers in the CWHL. We understand that this is just the beginning for the growth of our game and look forward to the future.”

Launched in 2007, the CWHL’s players were unpaid for the first decade of the league’s existence.